beginv.¹

Brit.

/bᵻˈɡɪn/, U.S.

/bəˈɡɪn/,

/biˈɡɪn/

Forms: Past tense began /bɪˈɡæn/. Past participle begun /bɪˈɡʌn/. Forms: Old English biginnan, beginnan, Middle English biginnen, Middle English biginne, Middle English–1600s beginne, Middle English– begin. (Also Middle English bigunen, Middle English bigine, bigyn(e, bygyn(ne, Middle English–1500s begyn(ne.) past tense singular Old English– began, Old English–Middle English bigan. (Also Middle English bigon, Middle English bygan, Middle English bigane, Middle English bygon(ne, Middle English–1500s begann(e, begon(ne, 1500s–1800s begun.) plural Old English bigunnon, begunnon, Middle English begunnen, Middle English bigun(ne, Middle English–1500s begunne, Middle English–1800s begun; Middle English bi-, begann(e, Middle English– began. (Also Middle English bygun(ne, bygonne, 1500s bygane.) ScottishMiddle English–1600s begouth, 1500s begould, beguld, 1500s–1700s begoud, 1600s–1800s begude. past participle Old English–Middle English bigunnen, begunnen, Middle English bigun(ne, Middle English–1600s begunne, Middle English– begun. (Also Middle English bygun(ne, begonnen, bygonne, Middle English–1500s begonne, begunnyn, 1500s–1600s begon, 1600s begone, 1600s– occasionally began.)

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Of common West Germanic or ? Germanic formation: Old English bi- , be-ginnan is identical with Old Saxon and Old High German bi-ginnan , Middle High German, modern German, Dutch be-ginnen , Middle Dutch beghinnen ; < bi- , be- prefix about + *ginnan , an original Germanic verb, of which however only compounds have come down to us, including (beside the preceding) Gothic du-ginnan to begin, Old English ǫn-ginnan , a-ginnan , to begin, Old High German in-ginnan , Middle High German en-ginnen . The latter (Old High German and Middle High German) had the senses ‘to cut open, open up, begin, undertake’; hence it is inferred that the root sense of *ginnan was ‘to open, open up,’ and that it was cognate with Old Norse gína , Old English gínan ‘to gape, yawn,’ from a stem *gi- , appearing also in Old Church Slavonic zij-ati , Latin hiāre ‘to gape, open’ < Aryan *ghi- . ‘Gi-nn-an might originally be a form of the nu- class, in which, as in ri-nn-an , skî-n-an , and other verbs, the formative of the present was carried over into the other tenses’ (Sievers). The transition of sense from ‘open up’ to ‘begin,’ is a frequent one: compare French entamer , English attame v.; also German eröffnen and English ‘open’ a speech, ‘open’ fire, ‘open up’ negotiations; also the parallel use of ‘close, close up, conclude, shut up,’ in sense of ‘to end.’ Beginnan was very rare in Old English, where the ordinary word was ǫnginnan : see ongin v., agin v., and the aphetic gin v.¹ As in other verbs having grammatical vowel change in the past tense, there was an early tendency to level the forms of the 1st and 3rd singular began, and of the 2nd singular begunne, plural begunnon, which has resulted in the establishment of began as the standard form; but an alternative from the old plural begun has also come down to the present day. The rare past participle began shows form-levelling in another direction. The Scots forms begouth, begoud, seem due to some form-association with couth, could, probably through the aphetic form gan, which became in Scots can, and was thus identical in form with can ‘to be able.’

1. intransitive. To open operations upon or in reference to (any action), to set oneself effectively to do (something), to be at the point of first contact with; to enter upon, take the first step, do the first or starting part; to commence, to start. An abstract notion, which is reached in various languages through the concrete notions of opening, broaching (French entamer), going into or entering upon (Latin inīre), rousing oneself to, attacking (Latin adorīri), setting oneself to (French se mettre), seizing hold of, or taking in hand (German anfangen), rousing oneself from inaction into activity (start).

(a) with dative infinitive with to (formerly often for to; occasionally with the infinitive without to).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)]

beginc1000

onginOE

aginOE

ginc1175

to go tillc1175

to take onc1175

comsea1225

fanga1225

to go toc1275

i-ginc1275

commencec1320

to get (also get down, go, go adown, set, set down) to workc1400

to lay to one's hand(sc1405

to put to one's hand (also hands)c1410

to set toc1425

standa1450

to make to1563

to fall to it1570

to start out1574

to fall to1577

to run upon ——1581

to break off1591

start1607

to set in1608

to set to one's hands1611

to put toa1616

to fall ona1625

in1633

to fall aboard1642

auspicatea1670

to set out1693

to enter (into) the fray1698

open1708

to start in1737

inchoate1767

to set off1774

go1780

start1785

to on with1843

to kick off1857

to start in on1859

to steam up1860

to push off1909

to cut loose1923

to get (also put) the show on the road1941

to get one's arse in gear1948

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)]

beginc1000

take?a1160

comsea1225

gina1325

commencec1330

tamec1386

to take upa1400

enterc1510

to stand to1567

incept1569

start1570

to set into ——1591

initiate1604

imprime1637

to get to ——1655

flesh1695

to start on ——1885

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > begin [verb (intransitive)]

beginc1000

comsea1225

gin?c1225

becomsea1375

commencec1380

to take beginninga1400

enterc1425

to start up1568

initiatea1618

inchoate1654

dawn1716

to take in1845

to take up1846

to set in1848

c1000 Ælfric Genesis ix. 20 Noe þa began to wircenne þæt land.

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 77 Nu bi-gon paul to wepen.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 188 Ðan ðat he singen bi-gan.

c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. ii. iii. 37 Þou bygunne raþer to ben leef and deere Þan forto ben a neyȝbour.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5942 Ful yern on godd bi-gun [Fairf. be-ganne] þai call.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3565 þe heued biginnes for to scak.

c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 469 Þe day beganne to daw.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) ix. 183 Thair hertis all begouth to fale.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Aii Ther vpon I begon.. to write in latine.

a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1846) I. 389 Thay begould to requyre that Messe sould be sett up agane.

1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. iv. 198 The troupes of the horsemen beganne for to flee.

1611 Bible (King James) Gen. iv. 26 Then began men to call vpon the Name of the Lord.

a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) ii. ii. 183 The faire Gardeneresse then began speake.

1646 J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) 245 Many..ill-principled ministers begouth to acknowledge them.

1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §323 The storm..begun at the south-east.

a1813 A. Wilson Poems & Lit. Prose (1876) II. 13 Auld Saunders begoud for to wink.

1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto II clxvii. 202 He begun To hear new words, and to repeat them.

1821 T. H. Scott in S. Parr Wks. (1828) VII. 242 They have already began to export fine wool.

1826 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xxix, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Nov. 771 Day-life begude to roar again.

1870 H. Macmillan Bible Teachings x. 208 We began to die the moment we began to live.

(b) When the following verb is transitive, e.g. ‘they have begun to cleanse it,’ the passive has been variously ‘it has been begun-to-cleanse,’ ‘it has been begun to be cleansed,’ ‘it has begun to be cleansed’; the last is the form now used.

ΚΠ

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 99 Þe is of sinne clensed oðer bigunne to clensende.

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. v. 40 When the gret Tour of Babel was begonnen to be made.

a1657 J. Balfour Hist. Wks. (1824) II. 72 Vedinsday, the 18 of Nouember, a blazinge star begude to be seine in the southe.

b. absol. To start or take the first step in any matter in question, or in action generally.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > make a beginning in some enterprise

beginc1200

to break the ice?1553

to break (the) ground1709

to set (or start) the ball rolling1770

to strike the first blow1849

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 85 Ðu bigunne betere þenne þu ende.

c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 78 Charite schuld bigyne at hemself.

1458 MS. in Dom. Archit. III. 41 The kynge bad hem begynne apon Goddes blissing.

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 314 With als grit anger that tyme as tha culd, Tha left the mater war than tha beguld.

1612 T. Dekker If it be not Good sig. C2 Well to begin, and not end so were base.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. iv. 31 I know it wel sir, you alwaies end ere you begin .

1712 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 22 Oct. (1965) I. 168 I don't know very well how to begin.

c. spec. To begin a speech, to start speaking, to speak.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > speak [verb (intransitive)] > begin to speak

upbreakc1275

to set spell on enda1300

gina1333

to take up (one's) parablea1382

braidc1400

to take up the word1477

begin1563

exordiate1594

to speak upa1723

to lug out1787

to speak out1792

upspeak1827

exordize1887

shoot1915

open1926

to come in1949

1563 T. Sackville in W. Baldwin et al. Myrrour for Magistrates (new ed.) Induct. xix My spirits returnd, and then I thus begonne: [etc.].

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 83 To whom th' Arch-Enemy..Breaking the horrid silence thus began .

1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. iv. 82 Soft-whispering thus to Nestor's son..young Ithacus begun.

d. Const. to begin at (formerly from): to start from a point. to begin with (formerly at, from, by): to start with an action or thing affected; to begin by doing something. to begin with, (withal obs.), adverbial phr.: At the outset, as the first thing to be considered.

ΚΠ

c1380 J. Wyclif Three Treat. 24 Bigynne we at the freris, the whiche he brouȝte laste inne.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xxiii. 5 He moueth to gidere the peple, techinge thorw al Judee, bigynnynge fro Galilee til hidur [1526 Tyndale at Galile even to this place, 1582 Rheims from Galilee euen hither, 1611 King James from Galilee to this place].

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 546 Bygyn at þe laste þat standez lowe, Tyl to þe fyrste þat þou at-teny.

1531 W. Tyndale Expos. & Notes (1849) 220 And, to begin withal, they said Confiteor.

1536 R. Beerley Let. in W. B. Scoones Four Cent. Eng. Lett. (1880) 35 Sume cum to mattens, begenynge at the mydes, and sume when yt ys allmost done.

a1563 J. Bale King Johan (1969) ii. 1205 Fyrst, to begynne with we shall interdyte þe land.

1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 494/2 First begynnyng with that godly man..the autor of the boke.

1611 Bible (King James) Matt. xx. 8 Beginning from the last vnto the first [ Wyclif, to; Geneva, at the laste til [to] the firste] .

1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iii. §2. 182 I will begin with the Assaulter, who is..said to be Amalek.

1697 J. Dryden Alexander's Feast ii. 2 The Song began from Jove.

1739 Ld. Chesterfield Lett. (1932) (modernized text) II. 384 The Spaniards began their conquests..by the islands of St. Domingo and Cuba.

1774 Ld. Chesterfield Lett. to Son I. 2 I am told, Sir, you are preparing to travel, and that you begin by Holland.

1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I vii. 6 My way is to begin with the beginning.

1843 T. Carlyle Past & Present iv. i. 324 The noble Priest was always a noble Aristos to begin with.

1860 J. S. Mill Represent. Govt. 278 It is obvious, to begin with, that all business purely local..should devolve upon the local authorities.

e. Usually with preceding negative: to make any (or the least) approach to, to come anywhere near. colloquial (originally U.S.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > to do something

cuneOE

seekc1000

fanda1225

suec1325

tastec1330

enforcec1340

study1340

temptc1384

intendc1385

assaila1393

proffera1393

to make meansc1395

search?a1400

fraistc1400

pursuec1400

to go aboutc1405

pretend1482

attempta1513

essay?1515

attend1523

regarda1533

offer1541

frame1545

to stand about1549

to put into (also in) practice1592

prove1612

imitate1626

snap1766

begin1833

make1880

the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > be similar [verb (intransitive)] > border upon, approach, or approximate

coast1382

to want little (also naught)a1500

approacha1538

bear1582

sympathize1605

to trench on or upon1622

neighboura1640

to border on or upona1694

approximate1771

verge1827

begin1833

1833 Niles' Reg. 44 348/1 The one in Bleecker street..cost ten thousand dollars, and that does not begin to be as expensive as this.

1840 Wilmington (N. Carolina) Commerc. 5 Apr. 2/1 We can't begin to come up to the prospectus.

1852 J. Weir Simon Kenton 13 Bust my buskins..if them ar' kind of tactics would begin to do with the redskins.

1865 Congress. Globe Feb. 664/1 New York does not begin to have sixty-nine thousand square miles.

1888 Harper's Mag. Sept. 545/2 He got Bret to take her picture,..and he said it didn't begin to do her justice.

1907 W. D. Howells Through Eye of Needle 43 Often there's a..dinner that you couldn't begin to get for the same price anywhere.

1915 W. A. Raleigh Let. 30 Mar. (1926) II. 420 I can't begin to tell about America.

1957 R. W. Zandvoort Handbk. Eng. Gram. (new ed.) i. ii. 27 I felt I did not begin to understand her. [Note] American, but spreading in England.

1963 Listener 24 Jan. 168/2 The Aeneid is not an Augusteid, because Augustus could not begin to embody Virgil's feelings.

1968 Observer 22 Dec. 8/5 Dollar for dollar, man in space does not begin to be cost-effective.

f. To compare in any degree with. U.S.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > be similar [verb (intransitive)] > correspond

answer?c1225

to run together?c1225

agreea1525

correspond1529

respond1563

quadrate1610

analogize1646

homologize1733

begin1862

1862 O. W. Norton Army Lett. (1903) 47 There is no other man whom I would be so much pleased to have taken as..Floyd. Jeff Davis wouldn't begin.

1877 ‘M. Twain’ in Atlantic Nov. 590 There ain't a book that begins with it.

1897 ‘M. Twain’ Following Equator xxxviii. 347 Indeed, our working-women cannot begin with her as a road-decoration.

a. transitive (in same sense) with a vbl. n., or other noun expressing action; also elliptical with any noun treated as a piece of work, as to begin (writing) a letter, to begin (reading) a book.

ΚΠ

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 93 Þet weorc wes bigunnen on-ȝen godes iwillan.

1307 Elegy Edw. I viii Bringe to ende that thou hast by-gonne.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 266 Now o þis proloug wil we b[lin], In crist nam our bok be-gin.

1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lvii. 83 He bigan werre to his neyghbours and to his Barons.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) v. ii. 36 This sacrifyce, quhilk I begunnyn haue.

1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 62 They begun their Reigns almost at the same time.

1722 London Gaz. No. 6051/1 His Royal Highness began the Ball with the Princess.

1751 Earl of Chatham Lett. to Nephew (1804) ii. 6 I rejoice to hear you have begun Homer's Iliad.

1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 45 With evil omen, we that Year begin.

b. intransitive. To begin on or upon: To set to work upon, begin to deal with.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > set to work upon or begin to deal with

to set about ——a1300

to set upon ——1555

fall1589

to deal on, upon1597

to break up1688

begin1808

to set up1857

1808 R. Southey Life (1850) III. 163 I will not begin upon it till I come to a stop in Kehama.

3. transitive. To start (anything) on its career, to give origin to, bring into existence, create; to be the first to do or practise. Of works, practices, or institutions, lasting through time.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > initiating or causing to begin > initiate [verb (transitive)]

beginc1175

baptizec1384

to set a (on) broachc1440

open1471

to set abroachc1475

entame1477

to set afloat1559

initiate1604

first1607

principiate1613

to set afoot or on foot1615

unclap1621

inchoatea1631

flush1633

to set on1638

principatec1650

rudiment1654

auspicate1660

embryonate1666

to strike up1711

start1723

institutea1797

float1833

spark1912

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 59 Alle þe scafte þe he bi-gon.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 448 Ðis Lamech was ðe firme man, Ðe bigamie first bi-gan.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 1007 Dido..This noble toun of Cartage hath bygunne.

1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 3 Proud Nimrod first the bloody Chace began.

1846 G. Grote Hist. Greece II. i. xviii. 14 Archelaus..alleged to have first begun the dynasty of the Temenid Kings.

4. intransitive. To enter upon its career, come into existence, take its rise, originate; to arise, start.

a. in reference to time.

ΚΠ

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 236 Hire first name ðor bi-gan.

1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 26 And than a newe [world] shal beginne.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 5342 Þar lijs adam, þe formast man, And eue of quam we all bigann.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Richard III f. xxx Yf the worlde woulde haue begone as I would haue wyshed.

1602 W. Fulbecke Parallele or Conf. Law i. 28 All perfection, goodnes, and iustice beginneth at him.

1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. i. 3 Eternally before this World begun.

1611 Bible (King James) Num. xvi. 46 There is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun .

1873 J. Bryce Holy Rom. Empire (ed. 4) 405 The greatness of the Prussian monarchy begins with Frederick II.

1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spiritual World 386 All life begins at the Amœboid stage.

b. of order in a list or series, place in a book, etc.

ΚΠ

a1225 St. Marher. 1 Her beginneð þe liflade and te passiun of seinte Margarete.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Matt. (ad fin.) Here endith the gospel of Matheu and bigynneth the prolog of Mark.

1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. aiij/1 Here begynnen the chapytres & tytles of this book folowyng.

1887 N.E.D. at Begin Mod. A new story begins in the present number. The paragraph begins about the middle of the page.

c. in reference to space.

ΚΠ

a1300 Cursor Mundi 1035 Þis flummes four þat þar biginnes, thoru out all oþer contres rinnes.

1517 R. Torkington Oldest Diarie Englysshe Trav. (1884) 23 At this Jaffe begynnyth the holy londe.

1887 N.E.D. at Begin Mod. The pine-forests begin at an elevation of two thousand feet.

5. Phrases. †to begin the board, dais, etc.: to sit at the head of the table. †to begin a toast: to propose a toast. †to begin to a person: to pledge, toast that person. to begin the world (see world n. Phrases 21). to begin upon a person (colloquial): to attack or assail a person.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > feasting > feast [verb (intransitive)] > preside at feast

to begin the dais1297

to begin the boardc1405

to begin the board, daisc1405

preside1709

the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > drink toasts or healths

hailc1275

to drink (a person's) hailc1325

to drink good lucka1529

pledge1546

carouse1583

skola1599

to drink off (or eat) candle-ends1600

health1628

to begin to a person1629

bumper1691

toast1699

to drink hob or nob, hob a nob1756

hob-nob1763

hobber-nob1800

to look towards (a person)1833

propine1887

ganbei1940

the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (transitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > pledge or toast > propose toast

present1632

propose1705

to begin a toasta1715

give1728

propine1734

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack with hostile words or measures

fangc1320

hurtlec1374

impugnc1384

weighc1386

to fall upon ——a1398

to start on ——a1398

oppugn?1435

to lay to, untoa1500

onseta1522

wipe1523

to set against ——1542

to fall aboard——1593

aggress1596

to fall foul1602

attack1613

appugn1615

to set upon ——1639

to fall on ——1641

to lay home, hard, hardly to1650

tack1720

bombard1766

savage1796

to pitch into ——1823

to begin upon a personc1825

bulldog1842

to down on (also upon)a1848

to set at ——1849

to start on ——a1851

to start in on1859

set on at or to1862

to let into1872

to go for ——1890

swash1890

slog1891

to get at ——1893

tee1955

c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 52 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Abouen alle nacions in Pruce.

1493 Festivall (1515) 85 b That they sholde bere them to hym that began the table [at Cana].

a1500 (?c1400) Sir Triamour (Cambr.) (1937) l. 1636 Qwene margaret began the deyse.

1629 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. (ed. 5) lxxv. sig. N7^v That is kind o're his beere, and protests he loues you, and beginnes to you againe.

1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts ii. 36 Can yee drinke of that bitter cup, wherein I shall begin to you?

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 408 At Sancroft's consecration dinner, he began a health, to the confusion of all that were not for a war with France.

c1825 M. M. Sherwood Houlston Tracts II. xxxii. 4 All the company began upon her, and bade her mind her own affairs.

1833 H. Martineau Brooke & Brooke Farm (ed. 3) iv. 53 Do you know..with how much land Mr. Malton began the world?

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	begin
释义	† beginn. Etymology: < begin v.¹ Obsolete. rare. Beginning. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun] ordeOE thresholdeOE frumthc950 anginOE frumeOE worthOE beginninga1225 springc1225 springc1225 commencementc1250 ginninga1300 comsingc1325 entryc1330 aginning1340 alphac1384 incomea1400 formec1400 ingressc1420 birtha1425 principlea1449 comsementa1450 resultancec1450 inition1463 inceptiona1483 entering1526 originala1529 inchoation1530 opening1531 starting1541 principium1550 entrance1553 onset1561 rise1589 begin1590 ingate1591 overture1595 budding1601 initiationa1607 starting off1616 dawninga1631 dawn1633 impriminga1639 start1644 fall1647 initial1656 outset1664 outsettinga1698 going off1714 offsetting1782 offset1791 commence1794 aurora1806 incipiency1817 set-out1821 set-in1826 throw-off1828 go-off1830 outstart1844 start1857 incipience1864 oncome1865 kick-off1875 off-go1886 off1896 get-go1960 lift-off1967 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. iii. sig. Ee Let no whit thee dismay The hard beginne, that meetes thee in the dore. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2021). beginv.¹ Brit. /bᵻˈɡɪn/, U.S. /bəˈɡɪn/, /biˈɡɪn/ Forms: Past tense began /bɪˈɡæn/. Past participle begun /bɪˈɡʌn/. Forms: Old English biginnan, beginnan, Middle English biginnen, Middle English biginne, Middle English–1600s beginne, Middle English– begin. (Also Middle English bigunen, Middle English bigine, bigyn(e, bygyn(ne, Middle English–1500s begyn(ne.) past tense singular Old English– began, Old English–Middle English bigan. (Also Middle English bigon, Middle English bygan, Middle English bigane, Middle English bygon(ne, Middle English–1500s begann(e, begon(ne, 1500s–1800s begun.) plural Old English bigunnon, begunnon, Middle English begunnen, Middle English bigun(ne, Middle English–1500s begunne, Middle English–1800s begun; Middle English bi-, begann(e, Middle English– began. (Also Middle English bygun(ne, bygonne, 1500s bygane.) ScottishMiddle English–1600s begouth, 1500s begould, beguld, 1500s–1700s begoud, 1600s–1800s begude. past participle Old English–Middle English bigunnen, begunnen, Middle English bigun(ne, Middle English–1600s begunne, Middle English– begun. (Also Middle English bygun(ne, begonnen, bygonne, Middle English–1500s begonne, begunnyn, 1500s–1600s begon, 1600s begone, 1600s– occasionally began.) Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Of common West Germanic or ? Germanic formation: Old English bi- , be-ginnan is identical with Old Saxon and Old High German bi-ginnan , Middle High German, modern German, Dutch be-ginnen , Middle Dutch beghinnen ; < bi- , be- prefix about + ginnan , an original Germanic verb, of which however only compounds have come down to us, including (beside the preceding) Gothic du-ginnan* to begin, Old English ǫn-ginnan , a-ginnan , to begin, Old High German in-ginnan , Middle High German en-ginnen . The latter (Old High German and Middle High German) had the senses ‘to cut open, open up, begin, undertake’; hence it is inferred that the root sense of ginnan was ‘to open, open up,’ and that it was cognate with Old Norse gína* , Old English gínan ‘to gape, yawn,’ from a stem gi- , appearing also in Old Church Slavonic zij-ati* , Latin hiāre ‘to gape, open’ < Aryan ghi- . ‘Gi-nn-an* might originally be a form of the nu- class, in which, as in ri-nn-an , skî-n-an , and other verbs, the formative of the present was carried over into the other tenses’ (Sievers). The transition of sense from ‘open up’ to ‘begin,’ is a frequent one: compare French entamer , English attame v.; also German eröffnen and English ‘open’ a speech, ‘open’ fire, ‘open up’ negotiations; also the parallel use of ‘close, close up, conclude, shut up,’ in sense of ‘to end.’ Beginnan was very rare in Old English, where the ordinary word was ǫnginnan : see ongin v., agin v., and the aphetic gin v.¹ As in other verbs having grammatical vowel change in the past tense, there was an early tendency to level the forms of the 1st and 3rd singular began, and of the 2nd singular begunne, plural begunnon, which has resulted in the establishment of began as the standard form; but an alternative from the old plural begun has also come down to the present day. The rare past participle began shows form-levelling in another direction. The Scots forms begouth, begoud, seem due to some form-association with couth, could, probably through the aphetic form gan, which became in Scots can, and was thus identical in form with can ‘to be able.’ 1. intransitive. To open operations upon or in reference to (any action), to set oneself effectively to do (something), to be at the point of first contact with; to enter upon, take the first step, do the first or starting part; to commence, to start. An abstract notion, which is reached in various languages through the concrete notions of opening, broaching (French entamer), going into or entering upon (Latin inīre), rousing oneself to, attacking (Latin adorīri), setting oneself to (French se mettre), seizing hold of, or taking in hand (German anfangen), rousing oneself from inaction into activity (start). a. (a) with dative infinitive with to (formerly often for to; occasionally with the infinitive without to). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] beginc1000 onginOE aginOE ginc1175 to go tillc1175 to take onc1175 comsea1225 fanga1225 to go toc1275 i-ginc1275 commencec1320 to get (also get down, go, go adown, set, set down) to workc1400 to lay to one's hand(sc1405 to put to one's hand (also hands)c1410 to set toc1425 standa1450 to make to1563 to fall to it1570 to start out1574 to fall to1577 to run upon ——1581 to break off1591 start1607 to set in1608 to set to one's hands1611 to put toa1616 to fall ona1625 in1633 to fall aboard1642 auspicatea1670 to set out1693 to enter (into) the fray1698 open1708 to start in1737 inchoate1767 to set off1774 go1780 start1785 to on with1843 to kick off1857 to start in on1859 to steam up1860 to push off1909 to cut loose1923 to get (also put) the show on the road1941 to get one's arse in gear1948 the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] beginc1000 take?a1160 comsea1225 gina1325 commencec1330 tamec1386 to take upa1400 enterc1510 to stand to1567 incept1569 start1570 to set into ——1591 initiate1604 imprime1637 to get to ——1655 flesh1695 to start on ——1885 the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > begin [verb (intransitive)] beginc1000 comsea1225 gin?c1225 becomsea1375 commencec1380 to take beginninga1400 enterc1425 to start up1568 initiatea1618 inchoate1654 dawn1716 to take in1845 to take up1846 to set in1848 c1000 Ælfric Genesis ix. 20 Noe þa began to wircenne þæt land. c1175 Lamb. Hom. 77 Nu bi-gon paul to wepen. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 188 Ðan ðat he singen bi-gan. c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. ii. iii. 37 Þou bygunne raþer to ben leef and deere Þan forto ben a neyȝbour. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5942 Ful yern on godd bi-gun [Fairf. be-ganne] þai call. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3565 þe heued biginnes for to scak. c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 469 Þe day beganne to daw. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) ix. 183 Thair hertis all begouth to fale. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Aii Ther vpon I begon.. to write in latine. a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1846) I. 389 Thay begould to requyre that Messe sould be sett up agane. 1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. iv. 198 The troupes of the horsemen beganne for to flee. 1611 Bible (King James) Gen. iv. 26 Then began men to call vpon the Name of the Lord. View more context for this quotation a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) ii. ii. 183 The faire Gardeneresse then began speake. 1646 J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) 245 Many..ill-principled ministers begouth to acknowledge them. 1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §323 The storm..begun at the south-east. a1813 A. Wilson Poems & Lit. Prose (1876) II. 13 Auld Saunders begoud for to wink. 1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto II clxvii. 202 He begun To hear new words, and to repeat them. 1821 T. H. Scott in S. Parr Wks. (1828) VII. 242 They have already began to export fine wool. 1826 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xxix, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Nov. 771 Day-life begude to roar again. 1870 H. Macmillan Bible Teachings x. 208 We began to die the moment we began to live. (b) When the following verb is transitive, e.g. ‘they have begun to cleanse it,’ the passive has been variously ‘it has been begun-to-cleanse,’ ‘it has been begun to be cleansed,’ ‘it has begun to be cleansed’; the last is the form now used. ΚΠ c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 99 Þe is of sinne clensed oðer bigunne to clensende. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. v. 40 When the gret Tour of Babel was begonnen to be made. a1657 J. Balfour Hist. Wks. (1824) II. 72 Vedinsday, the 18 of Nouember, a blazinge star begude to be seine in the southe. b. absol. To start or take the first step in any matter in question, or in action generally. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > make a beginning in some enterprise beginc1200 to break the ice?1553 to break (the) ground1709 to set (or start) the ball rolling1770 to strike the first blow1849 c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 85 Ðu bigunne betere þenne þu ende. c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 78 Charite schuld bigyne at hemself. 1458 MS. in Dom. Archit. III. 41 The kynge bad hem begynne apon Goddes blissing. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 314 With als grit anger that tyme as tha culd, Tha left the mater war than tha beguld. 1612 T. Dekker If it be not Good sig. C2 Well to begin, and not end so were base. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. iv. 31 I know it wel sir, you alwaies end ere you begin . View more context for this quotation 1712 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 22 Oct. (1965) I. 168 I don't know very well how to begin. c. spec. To begin a speech, to start speaking, to speak. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > speak [verb (intransitive)] > begin to speak upbreakc1275 to set spell on enda1300 gina1333 to take up (one's) parablea1382 braidc1400 to take up the word1477 begin1563 exordiate1594 to speak upa1723 to lug out1787 to speak out1792 upspeak1827 exordize1887 shoot1915 open1926 to come in1949 1563 T. Sackville in W. Baldwin et al. Myrrour for Magistrates (new ed.) Induct. xix My spirits returnd, and then I thus begonne: [etc.]. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 83 To whom th' Arch-Enemy..Breaking the horrid silence thus began . View more context for this quotation 1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. iv. 82 Soft-whispering thus to Nestor's son..young Ithacus begun. d. Const. to begin at (formerly from): to start from a point. to begin with (formerly at, from, by): to start with an action or thing affected; to begin by doing something. to begin with, (withal obs.), adverbial phr.: At the outset, as the first thing to be considered. ΚΠ c1380 J. Wyclif Three Treat. 24 Bigynne we at the freris, the whiche he brouȝte laste inne. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xxiii. 5 He moueth to gidere the peple, techinge thorw al Judee, bigynnynge fro Galilee til hidur [1526 Tyndale at Galile even to this place, 1582 Rheims from Galilee euen hither, 1611 King James from Galilee to this place]. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 546 Bygyn at þe laste þat standez lowe, Tyl to þe fyrste þat þou at-teny. 1531 W. Tyndale Expos. & Notes (1849) 220 And, to begin withal, they said Confiteor. 1536 R. Beerley Let. in W. B. Scoones Four Cent. Eng. Lett. (1880) 35 Sume cum to mattens, begenynge at the mydes, and sume when yt ys allmost done. a1563 J. Bale King Johan (1969) ii. 1205 Fyrst, to begynne with we shall interdyte þe land. 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 494/2 First begynnyng with that godly man..the autor of the boke. 1611 Bible (King James) Matt. xx. 8 Beginning from the last vnto the first [ Wyclif, to; Geneva, at the laste til [to] the firste] . View more context for this quotation 1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iii. §2. 182 I will begin with the Assaulter, who is..said to be Amalek. 1697 J. Dryden Alexander's Feast ii. 2 The Song began from Jove. 1739 Ld. Chesterfield Lett. (1932) (modernized text) II. 384 The Spaniards began their conquests..by the islands of St. Domingo and Cuba. 1774 Ld. Chesterfield Lett. to Son I. 2 I am told, Sir, you are preparing to travel, and that you begin by Holland. 1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I vii. 6 My way is to begin with the beginning. 1843 T. Carlyle Past & Present iv. i. 324 The noble Priest was always a noble Aristos to begin with. 1860 J. S. Mill Represent. Govt. 278 It is obvious, to begin with, that all business purely local..should devolve upon the local authorities. e. Usually with preceding negative: to make any (or the least) approach to, to come anywhere near. colloquial (originally U.S.). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > to do something cuneOE seekc1000 fanda1225 suec1325 tastec1330 enforcec1340 study1340 temptc1384 intendc1385 assaila1393 proffera1393 to make meansc1395 search?a1400 fraistc1400 pursuec1400 to go aboutc1405 pretend1482 attempta1513 essay?1515 attend1523 regarda1533 offer1541 frame1545 to stand about1549 to put into (also in) practice1592 prove1612 imitate1626 snap1766 begin1833 make1880 the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > be similar [verb (intransitive)] > border upon, approach, or approximate coast1382 to want little (also naught)a1500 approacha1538 bear1582 sympathize1605 to trench on or upon1622 neighboura1640 to border on or upona1694 approximate1771 verge1827 begin1833 1833 Niles' Reg. 44 348/1 The one in Bleecker street..cost ten thousand dollars, and that does not begin to be as expensive as this. 1840 Wilmington (N. Carolina) Commerc. 5 Apr. 2/1 We can't begin to come up to the prospectus. 1852 J. Weir Simon Kenton 13 Bust my buskins..if them ar' kind of tactics would begin to do with the redskins. 1865 Congress. Globe Feb. 664/1 New York does not begin to have sixty-nine thousand square miles. 1888 Harper's Mag. Sept. 545/2 He got Bret to take her picture,..and he said it didn't begin to do her justice. 1907 W. D. Howells Through Eye of Needle 43 Often there's a..dinner that you couldn't begin to get for the same price anywhere. 1915 W. A. Raleigh Let. 30 Mar. (1926) II. 420 I can't begin to tell about America. 1957 R. W. Zandvoort Handbk. Eng. Gram. (new ed.) i. ii. 27 I felt I did not begin to understand her. [Note] American, but spreading in England. 1963 Listener 24 Jan. 168/2 The Aeneid is not an Augusteid, because Augustus could not begin to embody Virgil's feelings. 1968 Observer 22 Dec. 8/5 Dollar for dollar, man in space does not begin to be cost-effective. f. To compare in any degree with. U.S. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > be similar [verb (intransitive)] > correspond answer?c1225 to run together?c1225 agreea1525 correspond1529 respond1563 quadrate1610 analogize1646 homologize1733 begin1862 1862 O. W. Norton Army Lett. (1903) 47 There is no other man whom I would be so much pleased to have taken as..Floyd. Jeff Davis wouldn't begin. 1877 ‘M. Twain’ in Atlantic Nov. 590 There ain't a book that begins with it. 1897 ‘M. Twain’ Following Equator xxxviii. 347 Indeed, our working-women cannot begin with her as a road-decoration. 2. a. transitive (in same sense) with a vbl. n., or other noun expressing action; also elliptical with any noun treated as a piece of work, as to begin (writing) a letter, to begin (reading) a book. ΚΠ c1175 Lamb. Hom. 93 Þet weorc wes bigunnen on-ȝen godes iwillan. 1307 Elegy Edw. I viii Bringe to ende that thou hast by-gonne. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 266 Now o þis proloug wil we b[lin], In crist nam our bok be-gin. 1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lvii. 83 He bigan werre to his neyghbours and to his Barons. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) v. ii. 36 This sacrifyce, quhilk I begunnyn haue. 1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 62 They begun their Reigns almost at the same time. 1722 London Gaz. No. 6051/1 His Royal Highness began the Ball with the Princess. 1751 Earl of Chatham Lett. to Nephew (1804) ii. 6 I rejoice to hear you have begun Homer's Iliad. 1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 45 With evil omen, we that Year begin. b. intransitive. To begin on or upon: To set to work upon, begin to deal with. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin or enter upon (an action) [verb (transitive)] > set to work upon or begin to deal with to set about ——a1300 to set upon ——1555 fall1589 to deal on, upon1597 to break up1688 begin1808 to set up1857 1808 R. Southey Life (1850) III. 163 I will not begin upon it till I come to a stop in Kehama. 3. transitive. To start (anything) on its career, to give origin to, bring into existence, create; to be the first to do or practise. Of works, practices, or institutions, lasting through time. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > initiating or causing to begin > initiate [verb (transitive)] beginc1175 baptizec1384 to set a (on) broachc1440 open1471 to set abroachc1475 entame1477 to set afloat1559 initiate1604 first1607 principiate1613 to set afoot or on foot1615 unclap1621 inchoatea1631 flush1633 to set on1638 principatec1650 rudiment1654 auspicate1660 embryonate1666 to strike up1711 start1723 institutea1797 float1833 spark1912 c1175 Lamb. Hom. 59 Alle þe scafte þe he bi-gon. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 448 Ðis Lamech was ðe firme man, Ðe bigamie first bi-gan. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 1007 Dido..This noble toun of Cartage hath bygunne. 1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 3 Proud Nimrod first the bloody Chace began. 1846 G. Grote Hist. Greece II. i. xviii. 14 Archelaus..alleged to have first begun the dynasty of the Temenid Kings. 4. intransitive. To enter upon its career, come into existence, take its rise, originate; to arise, start. a. in reference to time. ΚΠ a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 236 Hire first name ðor bi-gan. 1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 26 And than a newe [world] shal beginne. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 5342 Þar lijs adam, þe formast man, And eue of quam we all bigann. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Richard III f. xxx Yf the worlde woulde haue begone as I would haue wyshed. 1602 W. Fulbecke Parallele or Conf. Law i. 28 All perfection, goodnes, and iustice beginneth at him. 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. i. 3 Eternally before this World begun. 1611 Bible (King James) Num. xvi. 46 There is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun . View more context for this quotation 1873 J. Bryce Holy Rom. Empire (ed. 4) 405 The greatness of the Prussian monarchy begins with Frederick II. 1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spiritual World 386 All life begins at the Amœboid stage. b. of order in a list or series, place in a book, etc. ΚΠ a1225 St. Marher. 1 Her beginneð þe liflade and te passiun of seinte Margarete. 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Matt. (ad fin.) Here endith the gospel of Matheu and bigynneth the prolog of Mark. 1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. aiij/1 Here begynnen the chapytres & tytles of this book folowyng. 1887 N.E.D. at Begin Mod. A new story begins in the present number. The paragraph begins about the middle of the page. c. in reference to space. ΚΠ a1300 Cursor Mundi 1035 Þis flummes four þat þar biginnes, thoru out all oþer contres rinnes. 1517 R. Torkington Oldest Diarie Englysshe Trav. (1884) 23 At this Jaffe begynnyth the holy londe. 1887 N.E.D. at Begin Mod. The pine-forests begin at an elevation of two thousand feet. 5. Phrases. †to begin the board, dais, etc.: to sit at the head of the table. †to begin a toast: to propose a toast. †to begin to a person: to pledge, toast that person. to begin the world (see world n. Phrases 21). to begin upon a person (colloquial): to attack or assail a person. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > feasting > feast [verb (intransitive)] > preside at feast to begin the dais1297 to begin the boardc1405 to begin the board, daisc1405 preside1709 the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > drink toasts or healths hailc1275 to drink (a person's) hailc1325 to drink good lucka1529 pledge1546 carouse1583 skola1599 to drink off (or eat) candle-ends1600 health1628 to begin to a person1629 bumper1691 toast1699 to drink hob or nob, hob a nob1756 hob-nob1763 hobber-nob1800 to look towards (a person)1833 propine1887 ganbei1940 the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (transitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > pledge or toast > propose toast present1632 propose1705 to begin a toasta1715 give1728 propine1734 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack with hostile words or measures fangc1320 hurtlec1374 impugnc1384 weighc1386 to fall upon ——a1398 to start on ——a1398 oppugn?1435 to lay to, untoa1500 onseta1522 wipe1523 to set against ——1542 to fall aboard——1593 aggress1596 to fall foul1602 attack1613 appugn1615 to set upon ——1639 to fall on ——1641 to lay home, hard, hardly to1650 tack1720 bombard1766 savage1796 to pitch into ——1823 to begin upon a personc1825 bulldog1842 to down on (also upon)a1848 to set at ——1849 to start on ——a1851 to start in on1859 set on at or to1862 to let into1872 to go for ——1890 swash1890 slog1891 to get at ——1893 tee1955 c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 52 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Abouen alle nacions in Pruce. 1493 Festivall (1515) 85 b That they sholde bere them to hym that began the table [at Cana]. a1500 (?c1400) Sir Triamour (Cambr.) (1937) l. 1636 Qwene margaret began the deyse. 1629 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. (ed. 5) lxxv. sig. N7^v That is kind o're his beere, and protests he loues you, and beginnes to you againe. 1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts ii. 36 Can yee drinke of that bitter cup, wherein I shall begin to you? a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 408 At Sancroft's consecration dinner, he began a health, to the confusion of all that were not for a war with France. c1825 M. M. Sherwood Houlston Tracts II. xxxii. 4 All the company began upon her, and bade her mind her own affairs. 1833 H. Martineau Brooke & Brooke Farm (ed. 3) iv. 53 Do you know..with how much land Mr. Malton began the world? This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † beginv.² /bɪˈdʒɪn/ Forms: Middle English– bygynne, Middle English bigin, bigyn, biginn(e, begyn, begin. Etymology: < be- prefix + gin n.¹ 4a a trap. Obsolete. transitive. To entrap, ensnare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > snare, trap, entanglement > entrap, ensnare [verb (transitive)] shrenchc897 beswike971 betrapa1000 bewindOE undernimc1175 undertakec1175 bisayc1200 beguile?c1225 catchc1225 beginc1250 biwilea1275 tele?a1300 enginec1300 lime13.. umwrithea1340 engrin1340 oblige1340 belimec1350 enlacec1374 girnc1375 encumber138. gnarec1380 enwrap1382 briguea1387 snarl1387 upbroid1387 trap1390 entrikea1393 englue1393 gildera1400 aguilec1400 betraisec1400 embrygec1400 snare1401 lacea1425 maska1425 begluec1430 marl1440 supprise?c1450 to prey ona1500 attrap1524 circumvene1526 entangle1526 tangle1526 entrap1531 mesh1532 embrake1542 crawl1548 illaqueate1548 intricate1548 inveigle1551 circumvent1553 felter1567 besnare1571 in trick1572 ensnare1576 overcatch1577 underfong1579 salt1580 entoil1581 comprehend1584 windlassa1586 folda1592 solicit1592 toil1592 bait1600 beset1600 engage1603 benet1604 imbrier1605 ambush1611 inknot1611 enmesha1616 trammela1616 fool1620 pinion1621 aucupate1630 fang1637 surprise1642 underreacha1652 trepan1656 ensnarl1658 stalk1659 irretiate1660 coil1748 nail1766 net1803 to rope in1840 mousetrap1870 spider1891 c1250 Old Eng. Misc. 79 Ure wyþerwine Þat þencheþ vs to bi-gynne. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3880 Allas for sinn Qua wend he wald þus me biginn. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2021). < n.1590v.¹c1000v.²c1250
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